Golf club grip training aid

ABSTRACT

A sleeve for teaching the proper grip in swinging a golf club or the like. The sleeve, which is tapered, fits over the handle of a conventional club and is adapted to be held by the forward hand. The sleeve includes a recess or notch to receive the thumb of the rearward hand and is split to facilitate installation and removal. The sleeve prevents the forward hand from gripping the club too tightly. The thumb of the rearward hand obstructs and detects rotative movement of the sleeve during the execution of a golf club swing.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,806,130

Jacques Apr. 23, 1974 GOLF CLUB GRIP TRAINING AID 1,997,364 4/1935 HOlden el. al. 273/165 [76] Inventor: Edward J. Jacques, 45167 I Kensington, Utica, Mich. 48087 Primary Bummer-George l Marlo [22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 7 [21] Appl. No.: 318,525 [5 1 ABSTRACT A sleeve for teaching the proper grip in swinging a golf club or the like. The sleeve, which is tapered, fits [52] Cl 273/183 273/165 over the handle of a conventional club and is adapted to be held by the forward hand. The sleeve includes a {g 1653 recess or notch to receive the thumb of the rearward e o 4 8 C 26 hand and is split to facilitate installation and removal. The sleeve prevents the forward hand from gripping the club too tightly. The thumb of the rearward hand [56] References cued obstructs and detects rotative movement of the sleeve UNITED STATES PATENTS during the execution of a golf club swing. 2,09l,5l2 8/1937 Marsh 273/814 3,095,198 6/1963 Gasche 273/165 2 Clalms, 5 Drawing Figures 2,484,762 10/1949 Strazza 273/165 GOLF CLUB GRIP TRAINING AID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a teaching aid for improving the grip in swinging a golf club or the like. More particularly, this invention relates to a teaching aid for preventing the forward hand from gripping the golf club too tightly.

In the use of golf clubs or the like, the rearward hand grips the club firmly and applies power through the swing. The forward hand grips the club tightly to steer or aim the club. In the proper swing of a golf club, the forward hand must not grip the club too tightly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new golf teaching aid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel golf teaching aid to teach the golfer to avoid gripping the club too tightly with the forward hand.

The foregoing objects are accomplished with a novel golf sleeve which slides onto the handle of a golf club. The sleeve is held in the forward hand, thus eliminating a tight grip on the club. The sleeve includes a notch to receive the thumb of the rearward hand in accordance with a normal golf club grip. The sleeve includes a longitudinal slit to permit easy installation and removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects of the present invention, together with other objects and advantages which may be attained by its use, will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional golf club having the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the sleeve of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another view illustrating the sleeve of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the placement of the rearward hand with respect to the sleeve of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the placement of the forward and rearward hands with respect to the sleeve of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIG. 1, a novel golf training aid or sleeve is illustrated installed on a conventional golf club 12. The golf club includes a grip or handle 14 at one end of an elongated shaft or shank 16. A club head 18 is disposed at the otherend of the shank 16.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve 10 of the present invention is an elongated member having a gradual taper from a large end 20 to a narrow end 22. Disposed adjacent the large end 20 is a notch or recess 24 having the general contour to receive a human thumb. One side 26 of the contour 24 may extend beyond the other side 28.

The sleeve 10, which may be manufactured of a plastic, includes a longitudinal slit 30 which extends the length of the sleeve and is disposed diametrically across from the recess or contour 24.

With reference to FIG. 4, the sleeve is illustrated on the handle 14 of a golf club. A hand 32 including a thumb 34 is illustrated gripping the handle 14 in the conventional fashion with the thumb inserted in the recess or contour 24. If it is desired to have one side 26 of the sleeve longer than the other side 28 at the recess, the long side 26 may conveniently fit between the thumb 34 and the fingers of the rearward hand 32.

FIG. 5 illustrates the rearward hand 32 and the forward hand 36 gripping the club in the conventional grip with the forward hand 36 secured about the sleeve 10. In utilizing the sleeve as in FIG. 5 it is noted that the forward hand grips only the sleeve 10 but not the handle 14 of the club. In this fashion, the forward hand does not exert a tight gripping action against the club since the sleeve 10 fits loosely on the club handle.

The slit 30 is provided for ease in installing and removing the sleeve. Since the sleeve is manufactured of a flexible material such as plastic, the provision of the slit 30 permits easy spreading of the sleeve to fit the sleeve over the shank so that it may then be slid up over the handle. Furthermore, the taper from the large end 20 to the narrow end 22 prevents the sleeve from sliding too far up the club. It must be appreciated that a sleeve of this nature may be utilized by either a righthanded or a left-handed player, preferably by contouring the notch 24 to better receive either a left or right hand thumb, respectively.

The foregoing is a description of one embodiment of the present invention and should not be read in a restrictive sense but only as describing the underlying content. The invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims.

- What is claimed is:

1. An aid for training a golfer to properly grip a golf club, comprising:

a springy sleeve,

said sleeve being split longitudinally along its length for permitting said sleeve to be sprung open to fit over the shank of a golf club and thereby facilitate the placement of said sleeve in a rotatable position over the lower portion of the handle of a golf club in a position to be gripped by thevforward hand in swinging the club,

said sleeve including at an upper end thereof a cutout portion for permitting the thumb of a golfers rearward hand to be positioned therein in direct engagement with said handle while said rearward hand is gripping the upper portion of said handle, so that said thumb provides an obstruction to rotative movement of said sleeve and detects rotative movement of said sleeve during the execution of a golf club swing.

2. The construction of claim 1, and said sleeve being tapered along its length for close fitting over a tapered golf club handle. 

1. An aid for training a golfer to properly grip a golf club, comprising: a springy sleeve, said sleeve being split longitudinally along its length for permitting said sleeve to be sprung open to fit over the shank of a golf club and thereby facilitate the placement of said sleeve in a rotatable position over the lower portion of the handle of a golf club in a position to be gripped by the forward hand in swinging the club, said sleeve including at an upper end thereof a cut-out portion for permitting the thumb of a golfer''s rearward hand to be positioned therein in direct engagement with said handle while said rearward hand is gripping the upper portion of said handle, so that said thumb provides an obstruction to rotative movement of said sleeve and detects rotative movement of said sleeve during the execution of a golf club swing.
 2. The construction of claim 1, and said sleeve being tapered along its length for close fitting over a tapered golf club handle. 